Adjustable speed gearing mechanism



July 26, 1949. c, W ER 2,477,024

ADJUSTABLE SPEED GEARING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 18, 1945 GEORGE C. WEBSTER gear, the sun gear and the ring gear.

Patented July 26, 1949 ADJUSTABLE SPEED GEARING MECHANISM George C. Webster, United States Navy Application August 18, 1945, Serial No. 611,431

1 Claim.

'(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 1 This invention relates to adjustable speed gearing mechanisms. 7

In some types of power-driven apparatus it is desirable to provide a gearing mechanism whereby the speed of operation of the apparatus may be readily changed. While changeable speed mechanisms have been available heretofore, for the most part they are bulky and excessively complicated.

v'An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved adjustable speed gearing mechanism, and more particularly a compact adjustable speed gearing mechanism whereby one of two speed ratios may be readily selected.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention an adjustable speed gearing mechanism may be provided comprising a driven shaft to which is keyed a sun gear which meshes with a planet gear supported on a stub shaft mounted transversely in and extending from one side of a disc which is rotatably mounted coaxially of the driven shaft. The planet gear also meshes with an internal ring gear coaxially mounted with respect to the drive shaft and having a pulley associated therewith. Means are provided for preventing rotation of the planet gear supporting disc, thus causing the ring gear to be driven through the gear train comprising the planet Alternate means are provided for locking the ring gear to the planet gear supporting disc, thus causing the ring gear to rotate at the same speed. as the driven shaft.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an end view, partially in section, of an adjustable speed gearing mechanism constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, sectional view, partially in elevation, taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detail, sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 by Fig. 2, showing the mechanism whereby the planet gear supporting disc is locked to the internal ring gear.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that a base 5 is provided, on the right end of which, as viewed in Fig. 2, is mounted a motor 6, from the left side of which extends a driving shaft I, a suitable bearing 8 being provided in the left side of the motor housing to rotatably support the drive shaft I. Intermediate the left end of the drive shaft 1 and the bearing 8 is mounted a sun gear 9 which is keyed to the drive shaft 1 and rotatable therewith. An annular bearing assembly I0 is mounted adjacent the left side of the sun gear 9 on the shaft 1 and serves as a support for a carrier disc II, which is thus freely rotatable on an axis coaxial with the axis of rotation of the shaft 1. The bearing assembly It is retained in position by a threaded member [5 which is threaded into the left end of the shaft 1 and provided with a retaining collar I6 which bears against the left side of the inner portion of the bearing assembly, the carrier ll thus being rotatable with respect to the shaft 1 and collar 'Three short stub shafts I! are mounted on the right face of the carrier II and extend at right angles therefrom, beingequally radially spaced from the axis'of rotation of the carrier. These shafts serve as supports for a corresponding num ber of planet gears l8, which are rotatably mounted on the right ends of the shafts l1, being retained thereon by flanges 30 integrally formed with the right ends of each of the stub shafts ll. The stub shafts I! are held in position on the carrier H by associated set screws 3|. The inner portions of these planet gears mesh with the sun gear 9 while their outer portions mesh with an internal ring gear I9 which is fixed to or integrally formed with the inner side of a large cylindrical housing 20. A driven member in the form of a pulley 2| having a V-groove driving surface suitable to receive a conventional V belt is fixed to or is integrally formed with the right portion of the housing 20. The carrier disk I l is rabbeted at 31 around its peripheral margin on the side nearest the sun gears and is provided with a holding rin 38 fitted between the planet gears and the carrier and extending radiall outwardly into overlapping relation with the rabbeted portion of the carrier for holding a grease-retainer ring 39 seated in the rabbeted portion and in contact with the housing 20 and holding ring 38. To complete a seal for lubricant contained within the housing, a grease-retainer ring 40 is seated between and in contact with the carrier disk ll, collar l6 and bearing assembly 10, while a third grease-retainer ring 4| is seated between and in contact with the pulley bearing assembly 42, the ring-nut 43 and a holding ring 44 abutting a shoulder 45 on the shaft. It will be understood, of course, that any type of pulley may be employed or that a gear could be used where desired. Th pulley 2| and housing 20 are rotatably supported coaxially of the drive shaft 1 by a second annular bearing assembly 22 which 7 is mounted on the periphery of the shaft l intermediate the sun gear 9 and the bearing 8. v

In the operation of this device when it is desired to obtain a direct drive, that is a one to driven piiuey 2 l, a pin is slidabi mountain a radially extending slot 24 formed in the outer portion of the carrier I l, as shown in Figs. 1

3', is moved outwardly to cause its outer end to V I enter a notch 25 suitably Tormedih theih'ne'r side of the left portion of the housing l laithhs locking the carrier II to the housing .20, and

preventing relative rotative "movement the'iebetween. This prevents rotation of the planet gears I8 with respect to their associated stub shafts I! but since the carrier II is l i'ee a to retails iifit ll respect to the drive shaft 1, a direct drive pro vided and the pulley 2 1 will rotateat the same be manuiaetured or used by or for the Govern- 43 accidentally moving intojor but of the notch 25, a spring detent 26 mounted in the carrier f ll at *right' angles to the slot .24 alnd is *engageable with notches 21 suitably formed in the adjacent side of the pin 23. handle 28 is fixed t'o and extends from the opposit-e-side of the gain -23 through "a slot 29; which extends :parallel to and communicates with the pin as -lot :24; the

;handle -2'a {facilitates adjusting the position 'of the aperture 35 formed in-the leit rees-t to the lunger 3'3 and *ehgafgeable with s tablenotches 3 ririea theie b pi'eveiit the iner: 'entaily inev-mgoiitor tne as v nito ,theap'erture at the ease nlay be. a W n the "II *is held stationery, while the planetgears 181 *t-d to iotate'bh heirassoeiaited 1 1, "it will "be apparent "that "the sun mi-the e naft 1 waif-drive e t'lfe pl 6f the 1 inggear t9withrespect t the-shaft "*1 will depend upon the gear "ratios --exis-ting setw'ee n'the' g'ears 9', 18 and 19. In theease sewn -a speed reduction ofappro ately 50% seerfeeted. However, it will be "ener ised 'ishat by a moper s'election 'of 'gears a wide rangers speed ratl'es 'maybeobtained. a Y

when "it is desired to di'scoiihe't the pi'iiley 2 "from th'e' drive shaif-t '1, both the n fl ahd r plu-n er se ere removedirespec'tively from the 'notches in "the housing and from the aperture 35, tiius permitting the :planet igears to travel g ireely 'ab'odt the interior "-of the f ring gear l a, the -exterior "of the "sun gear 9 as they are rota'ted'hy the--gear-8. l 7

:By applying the drivihg powei to the pulleyfl l for other similar device, irather than to the i drive shaft-*1, it will *be'apparent that lnstea'd' of :picrviding-as :an alternate speed ratio a redueedspe ed S'G niayhie mOilhteH sh te-e brat et M ad trahsihisslor-i l a V 4 j obtained when the plunger engages the-sides of the aperture will be higher than the speed of rotation of the pulley 2| and the shaft 1 will then be driven at a greater speed.

While but one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described it will be under- ;stooii-thatmahy changes andj'moclificatibns may 7 be Ynaide'threin without-"dpairting from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 7 V

The invention shown and described herein may ment o'fthe TInitedStates of America for governihental purposes without the payment of any (royalties thereonor therefor.

What is olaimedis: Ablahetary-gear transmission device adapted tobe slid onto a driving shaft of a motor, said eviee comprising a sun gear slidabl'e 'o'ri'to "tlie'shait and having a key way for fixing the gear against rotation relative to the share; a 'pianeta'ry=gear earrier disk rotatamy mounted on the shaft througha rol ler' beafing "assembly seated (in-the sha ftfanii slidable alon the shaft, to iaeflitate assembly, a-driven pulley *r-ot'at'amy mounted on the sha'ft *and Fbe'a 'ng on itne "strait through'a' second roilei bearing asl sembly seated oi -"tneshaft in the plane erthe Ypulle'y' symmetrically of the pulley and slidable along the shaft to facilitate assembly, planetary gears "harried 'by'said carrier in mesh with said sun gear, stub shafts mounting the planetary gear on the jcalri'el' jhaving one end fixed in the "carrier and the 7' therfend provided withj a retaining 'fl'ange, isaid earn-er disk being 'rabbeted around its peribheraltnar'gin n the si'iileh'earest "said sun gearsga holding r g fitteifi' bjftwfelljlle planet gears and. the carrier extending radially outwardly into overlapping r'elati'owwlth thera'bbeted'portioh ofthe fearrieru'isk, andmom able with the "carrierdisklby'virtue of .the stub shafts 'p'a'sS ifig thietliibligh' 'iiit o fixed "connection with the earner, a cylindrical housing ear- 'ried by the *piineyand attending axiallytnere- "from overthe "planetary gears and e a'rrlierl'uisk, "a grease-retainer ring seated the; ra'ubeted p'oijtioh' of the carrier and in contest withth'e said holding ring and housing; retaining collar "'secured'to the end ;'df"the shaft for retaining the "carrier 'jiisk and its roller-bearing assemblyon t e shaft, a grease-retainer'rmgsituated between {and in cents- 21; 'withsaid'carrier disk, collar an bearing assembly; a ring'nut*eiainpingfthe near- 'l a'di'al movement ilo fond the periphery of th :braeket rormovement into engagement with-the V carrier disk :to dock tlre same :ieiat'ive' to said bra'cke't.

-ra-tio, the-alternate, speed, that is -thel-speed' ratio l ifig assembly for the pulley to the pulley-from enoaen c. WEBSTER;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Vogel Aug. 22, 1893 Simonds Nov. 14, 1905 Broughton Mar. 5, 1907 Meyers May 6, 1913 Shortman Jan. 6, 1914 Ehlin Nov. 23, 1915 Number 10 Number 

